South Rift: Communities, Conservation, and Research: Meet Kereng'ende (Karen-yen-day)

Thanks for all of your suggestions for the name of our new lioness. Here are some photos of her and her pride that seem to answer the question: Do lions climb trees?

South Rift Resource Centre

The pastoralist Maasai people recognize the great potential for community conservation projects in the southern Rift Valley of Kenya. Of equal importance, however, is the Maasai’s understanding that conservation strategies should be continually evaluated and adapted to ensure that local people and ecosystems are benefitting.

In 2001, leaders from 14 Maasai Group Ranches established the South Rift Association of Landowners (SORALO), an organization that would be responsible for managing the rich natural resources in the southern Rift Valley of Kenya (850,000 ha / 8,500 km2). One of SORALO’s first tasks involved the coordination of an economic and ecological evaluation of two recently established community conservation areas (20,000 ha / 200 km2) in Olkiramatian and Shompole group ranches. These two CCA’s provide numerous opportunities for eco-tourism while simultaneously providing a drought refuge for Maasai livestock. Using Olkiramatian and Shompole as a model, SORALO has attracted both local and international researchers to evaluate this biologically rich and human-integrated ecosystem. SORALO partnered with the African Conservation Centre, based in Nairobi, Kenya, to guide research in the region. In 2006, the South Rift Resource Centre, which is owned and operated by the Olkiramatian Women’s Group, was established as a base for all research in the region. This new project already houses both local and international researchers, including Joel Njonjo, Samantha Russell, and Paul Schuette. Plans are underway to develop the site as a meeting place for the community and an educational resource for local school children.

South Rift: Communities, Conservation, and Research

11 May 2010

Meet Kereng'ende (Karen-yen-day)

Baboon Walk

Olkiramatian Reto CBO

People, Plants, & Herbivores

Predators, Prey, and People

Blog Archive

Affiliations

Links

How You Can Help

Donations

South Rift Resource Centre

South Rift: Communities, Conservation, and Research

11 May 2010

Meet Kereng'ende (Karen-yen-day)

Baboon Walk

Olkiramatian Reto CBO

People, Plants, & Herbivores

Predators, Prey, and People

Blog Archive

Affiliations

Links

How You Can Help

Donations

Subscribe To Our Blog!

South Rift Resource Centre